Well, I am finally graduating to furniture. I intend to blog the journey in this series to share what I learn in the transition from small boxes to full size furniture. I’ve done large projects before but furniture is sort of the ‘holy grail’ of woodworking, in my mind. It is what I would really like to do (if I could afford the lumber). By the way, my mom’s birthday is June 21st (we will see how close I get to the the deadline.)
The Design:
Here is the original Sketchup model from the first blog in this series:
The Lumber:
Here is the wood my dad and I settled on at the lumber store. It is birch, which was affordable hardwood for us, but the most beautiful birch I’ve ever seen. It has a curly figure to it.
(Yes, that is my delta contractor’s saw looking dwarfed under that board.)
As you can see, I am pushing my jewelry box making tools to their limits:
Getting Started:
To cut that massive slab into the 4 legs I decided to cut it half way through on the table saw and then finish it off on the bandsaw. For this job, I decided it was time for a new blade.
Definitely need outfeed support here:
Cut, flip, cut, flip, cut, flip, cut, etc… very accurate because I only moved the fence once:
It cuts very fast on the bandsaw:
And the remaining “ridge” is cleaned up with a block plane.
I run them through the planer until they were all perfectly 2×2. Tapers will be cut later.
Taking Shape:
I also cut my apron pieces to length (adding inches for the mortise and tenon joinery) and at the end of the evening I clamped my pieces together and I saw my table come to life:
TOTAL PROJECT TIME SPENT SO FAR: 3 hours
-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com
25 comments so far
Al Navas
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219 posts in 361 days
posted 123 days ago
Blake,
Pretty cool!
One question: How will you be making the arches, as you show on the SketchUp rendition? Will you be using a template and a router? Just curious…
-- Al Navas, St Joseph, MO, http://sandal-woodsblog.com
Tony
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571 posts in 516 days
posted 123 days ago
That is really nice looking Birch – it looks nothing like the Birch we get here in Finland – Ours is much more whiter, almost the colour of Holly. Fantastic figuring on those rails, you got a really good find.
I look forward to the rest of the series
-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)
teenagewoodworker
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2032 posts in 254 days
posted 123 days ago
looking good, thats some wonderful figure in that Flame Birch there. what are you planning on for the finish.
dlcarver
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228 posts in 216 days
posted 123 days ago
Good project Blake, ;looks good! Dave
-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com
PaBull
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231 posts in 150 days
posted 123 days ago
that is one stout table. now do i see this right, did you just clamp it up for the last picture, or did you actually glu it?
-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com
jcees
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465 posts in 284 days
posted 123 days ago
So, how long have you been sewing, hmmmm? HA! Great project, Blake.
always,
J.C.
-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein
Jarrod Zion Murphree
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217 posts in 209 days
posted 122 days ago
Good looking project so far; I like that birch, and I like the design. Should be cool when finished.
I was unclear on whether you already cut the M&T’s, and if so how?
-- Jarrod, Eagle Nest, NM http://anthologyfinefurniture.wordpress.com
blackcherry
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196 posts in 308 days
posted 122 days ago
Dude dose Mom plan on making saddles LOL. That quit a slab of flaming birch…you’re off to a great start good luck on completion …Blkcherry
Karson
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12910 posts in 886 days
posted 122 days ago
Nice design Blake. Great looking wood.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
Scott Bryan
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9095 posts in 307 days
posted 122 days ago
Blake,
You are off to a good start here. Your design is interesting and you selected some nice wood. Getting it completed by her birthday is doable but it doesn’t leave a lot of tv time. :)
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Betsy
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1779 posts in 381 days
posted 122 days ago
Got a great start. Will be fun to watch this project come to life. June 21 is not far away——- try not to hurry to much!
-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!
Todd A. Clippinger
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2536 posts in 585 days
posted 122 days ago
The figure in that wood is rich! The design looks great.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
deeker
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36 posts in 271 days
posted 122 days ago
That looks great!!!! Nice pics and story. More pics!!! More pics!!!
-- To those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected never know. Unknown, on an empty C-ration box. Khe Sahn 1968
mot
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4837 posts in 522 days
posted 122 days ago
Looks good, Blake!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Greg Wurst
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414 posts in 318 days
posted 122 days ago
Where are you getting that wood? I want some!
The table looks great so far!
cajunpen
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5348 posts in 551 days
posted 122 days ago
Blake looks like you are off to a great start – nice design and the wood is really top notch. Good luck on making the deadline.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Dorje
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1745 posts in 482 days
posted 122 days ago
This is only going to get better! Wonderful wood…
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Beginningwoodworker
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467 posts in 158 days
posted 122 days ago
Very nice start so far.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
Chris
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1231 posts in 477 days
posted 122 days ago
Blake,
That is some great looking wood and I think the design is excellent design.
-- Chris
bfd
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256 posts in 292 days
posted 122 days ago
Hi Blake,
I am really excited to follow this. Off to a great start and I don’t think you could have selected any better wood.that stuff has great figure to it.
-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com
Blake
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2016 posts in 360 days
posted 122 days ago
Al Navas: I think I will just bandsaw the arches and clean them up on the O.S.S.
Teenagewoodworker: I will probably just oil it.
Pa Bull and Jarrod: It is just clamped in that last picture (no joinery or clamps).
Scott Bryan: I guess I need a TV in my shop!
Greg Wurst: A place called “Southern Lumber” in San Jose, CA.
Thanks for looking!
-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com
Blake
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2016 posts in 360 days
posted 122 days ago
By the way, I got the video up and running in the post (above).
-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com
GaryK
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8486 posts in 474 days
posted 122 days ago
That is some nice looking wood. That’s an interesting method to cut the legs. Looking forward to watching your progress.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Kipster
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1069 posts in 238 days
posted 122 days ago
Beautiful wood, I think this is a good project. Thanks for sharing
-- Kip Northern Illinois ( If you don't know where your goin any road will take you there) George Harrison
mzmac
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46 posts in 153 days
posted 120 days ago
Beautiful lumber. Smart idea